Course credit for internships

Students who are interested in obtaining credit for internships should first secure an internship with a provider. Once confirmed, contact Dr. Hudak, for permission to register for GEOG 4920/5900.

You will be required to compile a portfolio during the course of your internship and provide a letter of assessment from the internship provider. Both will be used to determine a "grade" for the course.

Thursday, September 29, 2016

In 2013, the councilors of the American Geographical Society created the AGS Council Fellowship to support graduate student scholarship in pursuit of geographical knowledge, and especially fieldwork. The fellowship is open to all student members of the American Geographical Society, both Masters and Doctoral Students. Each fellowship is worth $1,500 and four will be awarded in the spring.

Upon completion of the research, fellowship recipients are strongly encouraged to submit an article based upon their research to one of the AGS publications, such as the Geographical Review. The AGS Council Fellowship recipients will be announced in March 2017.

Proposals should contain the following components:
1. A cover page containing the project name, applicant’s name, position, affiliation, telephone number, postal address, and email address (1 page maximum);
2. A narrative that outlines the proposed research, specifies the reason for doing the research by placing it in the context of published work, and describes how results will be disseminated (3 page maximum);
3. A bibliography, containing only those items listed in the narrative (1 page maximum);
4. An abbreviated curriculum vitae em- phasizing factors that illustrate the applicant’s competence/experience in the proposed area of research (2 page maximum);
5. A budget (maximum $1,500) itemizing expenses, with brief justification for each expense category (1 page maximum)

Positions:
1) Two student research assistants for Ecology Team (aquatic ecosystem restoration)
2) Two student research assistants for Biocontrol Team (management of invasive aquatic plants using host-specific insect herbivores)

Responsibilities: Assisting research scientists with aquatic and terrestrial habitat restoration projects or biological control of invasive aquatic plants. Student will be involved in the set-up and maintenance of aquatic and terrestrial plant cultures or insect rearing cultures. Student will also assist with field work including plantings or insect release and monitoring.

Tuesday, September 13, 2016

Collin County is seeking candidates for the position of GIS Coordinator. This position creates and maintains spatial data in a Geographic Information System (GIS). Responsibilities include developing, maintaining, administering and updating web-based GIS that include designing and programming web pages; designing, documenting, implementing GIS database structure; performing application design and maintenance such as our mobile GIS programs and web GIS projects; designing, implementing and updating data transformation services (DTS) within our relational database management system (RDBMS); performing GIS analysis and custom mapping; and performing other duties as assigned. Work is performed under the direction of the GIS Administrator.

Candidates must have a broad knowledge in the field of GIS, normally acquired through four years of college resulting in a Bachelor’s degree. Two years of related experience is preferred. Working knowledge of ArcGIS, ArcIMS, MS SQLServer in addition to HTML, JSP, JAVA, XML, and Visual Basic experience is highly recommended. Candidates must possess and maintain a valid Texas Class C Driver’s License with an acceptable driving record.

Workplace and Benefits
Please note that this is a part-time position, working an average of 20 hours per week.

Collin County offers a fast-paced working environment, tuition reimbursement, and a comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, vision, life insurance, and long and short term disability. Retirement benefits have an excellent employer match.

You must submit a completed application to be considered for employment. Attaching a resume is not considered an acceptable substitute for a completed application.

Salary Range

Series & Grade

Promotion Potential

Supervisory Status

Who May Apply

Control Number

449371000

Job Announcement Number

ARS-D16W-0390A

Job Description

Job Summary

Find Solutions to Agricultural Problems that Affect Americans Every Day, From Field to Table.

This position is located within the National Sedimentation Laboratory, Water Quality and Ecology Research Unit (WQERU) in Oxford, Mississippi http://www.ars.usda.gov/main/site_main.htm?modecode=60-60-05-10. The broad research objectives of the WQERU are to develop basic and applied science for protecting and enhancing water resources and long-term agroecosystem function within watersheds affected by agricultural activities. Project strategies involve the entire watershed system from contributing areas to receiving water bodies. This position contributes to the United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service National Program 211, Water Availability and Watershed Management http://www.ars.usda.gov/research/programs/programs.htm?np_code=211.

This position requires the selectee to undergo a pre-employment check and a full background investigation. Any offer made is considered a tentative job offer pending the outcome of the pre-employment check. Retention in the position is based upon a favorable adjudication of the background investigation. The incumbent will be subject to periodic reinvestigations.
Research scientists have open-ended promotion potential. Research accomplishments and their impact on the duties and responsibilities of positions are evaluated periodically. The grade level is limited only by the individual's demonstrated ability to perform research of recognized importance to science and technology. *Final grade level may be determined by a peer review panel.

Duties

Major Duties:As a research scientist, the incumbent has full responsibility for initiating, developing and managing independent research projects addressing agricultural impacts on freshwater (e.g. lakes, streams, reservoirs), wetland (freshwater), and terrestrial ecosystems. The incumbent will be part of an interdisciplinary team within the WQERU to critically assess these issues. Incumbent also cooperates with scientists in other ARS research units and institutions, contributing skills in eco-hydrology (the interface between the biological sciences and hydrology). Ecosystem and hydrologic work is conducted at scales appropriate for ultimate application to management of fields, farms, and large watersheds. This research will be combined with additional regional data to extrapolate findings to larger river basins. Primary focus will be on systems typical of the Lower Mississippi River Basin, but broader applicability is desirable.
The incumbent identifies needed areas of research, and designs and conducts the appropriate studies to assess the impacts of agricultural management on hydrologic components of ecosystems. This information is vital to agencies, organizations, and individuals involved in planning and implementing source water protection, conservation effects assessment, ecosystem restoration, and regulatory programs at local, state, national, and international levels.

Travel Required

Occasional Travel

Occasional travel will be required in order to complete the required tasks of this position.

Relocation Authorized

Yes

Relocation Expenses may be authorized for the selected incumbent.

Job Requirements

Key Requirements

US Citizenship is required.

Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.

Successful completion of a three year probationary period.

Suitable for Federal employment, determined by a background investigation.

Qualifications

Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by 11:59 pm Eastern Time on the closing date of the announcement including the following specialized experience and/or education, as identified by grade level.
Your education and experience will be evaluated against all qualification requirements (basic and any additional requirements) listed below.
Graduate education must be directly related to the work of the position and must have equipped you with the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work.Basic Education Requirements:Occupational Series 1315 Hydrology: Having a degree in physical or natural science, or engineering that included at least 30 semester hours in any combination of courses in hydrology, the physical sciences, geophysics, chemistry, engineering science, soils, mathematics, aquatic biology, atmospheric science, meteorology, geology, oceanography, or the management or conservation of water resources. The course work must have included at least 6 semester hours in calculus (including both differential and integral calculus).Minimum Qualifications Requirements:GS-12 Research Hydrologist: Qualifying experience for the GS-12 grade level includes one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-11 grade level in the Federal service or possess a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or possess an equivalent combination of graduate level education and experience. Graduate education must be directly related to the work of the position and must have equipped applicants with the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work.

Specialized experience is experience directly related to the position to be filled. The specialized experience requirements for the GS-12 grade level of this position are: 1) experience in using hydrologic measurements and instrumentation in experimental applications and interpreting results, 2) knowledge of the scientific principles, methods, and processes used to conduct a systematic and objective assessment of the impacts of hydrological processes in agricultural landscapes; including study design, collection, analysis, and interpretation of data; and the reporting of results, 3) experience in planning and implementing research on hydrological processes in agricultural settings; including identifying needed areas of research, developing appropriate experimental designs, setting research goals and determining strategies to achieve them, and coordinating with research collaborators, and 4) knowledge of database organization and management of research data; including applications in geographic information systems and prediction management tools for agricultural ecosystems.

ORDegree: Having a Ph.D. or equivalent degree within the following fields: Hydrology or applicable related degrees such as Agricultural Engineering, Civil Engineering, and Environmental Science, as they relate to the research for this position.

ORCombination of Education and Experience: An appropriate combination of course work as shown above, plus appropriate experience or additional education.Additional Requirements: Evaluation of Experience: Acceptable experience must have included performance of scientific functions related to the study of water resources, based on and requiring a professional knowledge of related sciences and the consistent application of basic scientific principles to the solution of theoretical and practical hydrologic problems. The following is illustrative of acceptable experience - field or laboratory work that would require application of hydrologic theory and related sciences such as geology, geo-chemistry, geophysics, or civil engineering to making observations, taking samples, operating instruments, assembling data from source materials, analyzing and interpreting data, and reporting finding orally and in writing. In some cases, professional scientific experience that is not clearly water resource experience may be acceptable if such experience was preceded by appropriate education in hydrology or by professional hydrology experience. Applicants with related experience in hydrology gained through earlier Federal Government employment might have gained that experience in one or more occupational series - Soil Conservation GS-0457, Forestry GS-0404, Soil Science GS-0470, Civil Engineering GS-0810, Chemistry GS-1320, Meteorology GS-1340, and Geology GS-1350. Comparable non-Federal experience may be given similar credit.

Applicants must address the specialized experience requirements in their resume (or application documents). Applications that do not reflect the specialized experience requirements will not be deemed qualified.Applicants must be available to report for duty at the time a selection is made. Selections are typically made within 30 days of the closing date of the announcement.For more information on the qualifications for this position, please refer to:GS 1300 Series & GS Professional and Scientific Positions.
• Have your salary sent to a financial institution of your choice by Direct Deposit/Electronic Funds Transfer.

• If you are newly hired, the documentation you present for purposes of completing the Department Homeland Security (DHS) Form I-9 on your entry-on-duty date will be verified through the DHS "E-VERIFY" system. Federal law requires the use of E-VERIFY to confirm the employment eligibility of all new hires. Under this system, the new hire is required to resolve any identified discrepancies as a condition of continued employment.

• CONFIDENTIAL FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE REPORT: Federal employees are subject to prohibitions against officially dealing with outside organizations in which they have a financial interest. If hired for this position, you may be required to submit a financial disclosure report within 30 days of the effective date of your appointment and annually thereafter.To be considered for a research scientist position, you must submit a one-page abstract of your MS thesis and/or Ph.D. dissertation. Also, submit a list of names, addresses, and phone numbers of persons familiar with your stature, contributions, recognition; any honors or awards received; memberships in professional or honor societies; invitations to make presentations at scientific/technical meetings; scientific society office and committee assignments; presentations (other than invitation); and publications.

Security Clearance

Public Trust - Background Investigation

Additional Information

What To Expect Next

Your application will be reviewed to verify that you meet the eligibility and qualification requirements for the position prior to issuing referral lists to the selecting official. If further evaluation or interviews are required, you will be contacted. Log in to your USAJOBS account at https://my.usajobs.gov/Account/Login to check your application status. We expect to make a final job offer approximately 40 days after the deadline for applications.

BENEFITS

Other Information

Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP), Reemployment Priority List (RPL), or Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP): For information on how to apply as a CTAP, RPL, or ICTAP eligible see http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workfordce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/. To be well-qualified and exercise selection priority for this vacancy, surplus or displaced Federal employee must meet the basic eligibility requirements and all selective factors, and be rated in the Quality Category as described in the How You Will Be Evaluated section.

If you make a false statement in any part of your application, you may not be hired; may be fired after beginning work; or may be fined or jailed.

This position is eligible for telework and other flexible work arrangements. Employee participation is at the discretion of the supervisor.

E-Verify: Federal law requires agencies to use the E-Verify system to confirm the employment eligibility of all new hires. If you are selected as a newly hired employee, the documentation you present for purposes of completing the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Form 1-9 on your entry-on-duty date will be verified through the DHS E-VERIFY system. Under the system, the new hire is required to resolve any identified discrepancies as a condition of continued employment.

BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION AND FINGERPRINT CHECK: Selection and retention in this position is contingent on a successfully adjudicated FBI National Criminal History Check (fingerprint check) and a background investigation.

How to Apply

Please read the entire announcement and all instructions before you begin. You must complete this application process and submit all required documents electronically by Monday September 19, 2016 at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time (ET).

Applying online is highly encouraged. We are available to assist you during business hours (normally 8:00a.m. - 4:00p.m., Monday - Friday). If applying online poses a hardship, contact the Agency Contact listed below well before the closing date for an alternate method. All hardship application packages must be complete and submitted no later than noon ET on the closing date of the announcement in order to be entered into the system prior to its closing.

This agency provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities on a case-by-case basis; contact the Agency Contact to request this.

To begin, click "Apply Online" and follow the instructions to complete the Assessment Questionnaire and attach your resume and all required documents.

NOTE: You must verify that uploaded documents from USAJOBS transfer into the Agency's staffing system. Applicants may combine all like required documents (e.g., all SF-50s) into one or more files and scan for uploading into the application. Each file must not exceed 3MB. Grouping like documents into files will simplify the application process. Documents must be in one of the following formats: GIF, JPEG, JPG, PDF, PNG, RTF, or Word (DOC or DOCX). Uploaded documents may not require a password, digital signature, or other encryption to open.

How You Will Be Evaluated

You will be evaluated in accordance with the category rating procedure as defined in the USDA Demonstration Project Plan. Applicants who meet the basic minimum qualification requirements established for the position will be placed in the Eligible category. Eligible applicants will be further evaluated against criteria for placement in the Quality category. This evaluation is based on the level of your experience, education, and/or training as determined by your responses to the Assessment Questionnaire. Applicants with veterans' preference are listed ahead of applicants who do not have veterans' preference within each category.

You will be evaluated based on your qualifications for this position as evidenced by the education, experience, and training you described in your application package, as well as the responses to the Occupational Questionnaire to determine the degree to which you possess the knowledge, skills, abilities and competencies listed below:

Technical Competence (Hydrology)

Research

Planning and Evaluating

Data Management and Development

Note: If, after reviewing your resume and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and or experience, your rating may be lowered to more accurately reflect the submitted documentation. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating. Providing inaccurate information on Federal documents could be grounds for non-selection or disciplinary action up to including removal from the Federal service.
Clicking the link below will present a preview of the application form; i.e. the online questionnaire. The application form link below will only provide a preview and does not initiate the application process. To initiate the online application process, click the "Apply Online" button to the right.

Required Documents

Resume clearly describing your experience related to this position as described in the Major Duties, and Qualifications sections of this announcement.

You must submit a one-page abstract of your MS thesis and/or Ph.D. dissertation. Also, submit a list of names, addresses, and phone numbers of persons familiar with your stature, contributions, recognition; any honors or awards received; memberships in professional or honor societies; invitations to make presentations at scientific/technical meetings; scientific society office and committee assignments; presentations (other than invitation); and publications.

If you are a veteran and you are claiming veterans’ preference, you must submit a DD214, Certificate of Release from Active Duty, which shows dates of service and discharge under honorable conditions. For competitive service positions, active duty service members expecting to be discharged or released from active duty service in the armed forces under honorable conditions within 120 days: you may be granted tentative preference by submitting a “certification” document in lieu of a Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, DD-214. This “certification” is any written document from the armed forces that certifies the service member is expected to be discharged or released from active duty service under honorable conditions not later than 120 days after the date of the submission of the certification. Veterans’ preference must be verified prior to appointment. Without this documentation, you will not receive veterans’ preference and your application will be evaluated based on the material(s) submitted.

If you are claiming 10-point veterans’ preference based on service-connected disability, in addition to the DD214 or certification requirements (see above bullet), you must also submit an SF-15, Application for 10-point Veterans’ Preference, plus the proof of entitlement of this preference which is normally an official statement, dated 1991 or later, from the Department of Veterans Affairs certifying to the present existence of the service-connected disability and indicating the percentage of your disability. For more information on veterans’ preference see http://www.fedshirevets.gov/job/vetpref/.

You must submit a copy of your college transcripts. You must submit with your application evidence that any education completed in a foreign institution was appropriately accredited by an accrediting body recognized by the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Education as equivalent to U.S. education standards. For additional information, refer to the U.S. Department of Education web site at http://www.ed.gov. You may submit an unofficial copy of the transcripts; however, if you are selected, you will be required to submit official transcripts prior to entering on duty. All transcripts must be in English or include an English translation.

NOTE: If a document is resubmitted, it replaces the previous submission, which means the previous document is no longer available to the Human Resources Office. If you are adding to, rather than replacing a previous submission, you must upload both the old document and the new document. Please verify that documents you are uploading from USAJOBs transfer into the Agency's staffing system as there is a limitation to the number of documents that can be transferred. However, once in the Agency's staffing system, you will have the opportunity to upload additional documents. Uploaded resumes must be less than 3MB and in one of the following document formats: GIF, JPG, JPEG, PNG, RTF, PDF, or Word (DOC or DOCX).

The City of Waxahachie is accepting applications for a Planner I/II in the Planning & Zoning Department. Planner I is the entry-level position within professional planning. A bachelor’s degree or a master’s degree is required. It is distinguished from the planning Technician position because it involves professional-level duties and judgement, and fewer routine administrative tasks. This position level receives considerable immediate supervision from superiors.

Planner II requires professional planning work of moderate difficulty. It is characterized by increasingly specialized knowledge of the planning field and a more elevated level of required duties and responsibility compared with the Planner I. The Planner II is expected to possess in depth knowledge within one or more planning specialties such as economic development, comprehensive planning, or environmental planning. Although supervisors closely review the work of the Planner II, planners at this level receive somewhat less immediate supervision when compared to the Planning Technician or Planner I.

Experience and Training Guideline:

Planner I
Bachelor’s degree in urban planning, architecture, public policy, or related area of study in addition to one year experience in planning
OR
A master’s degree and no formal experience required.

Planner II
Master’s degree in urban planning, architecture, public policy, or related area of study in addition to two years of planning experience.
OR
A Bachelor’s degree and four years of professional planning experience.

Thursday, September 1, 2016

Intra-Urban Variability in Black Carbon Deposition: Rates, Pathways, and Determinants
Come join the Ecosystem Geography Research Group for an exciting opportunity to learn new research skills and work on a federally funded research project!

Position Overview:
The student intern position is a part-time student worker position that offers a UNT geography major the opportunity to learn new research skills and be a part of the research team working on a research project funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF). The project goal is to investigate to what extent city trees function as ‘urban air filters’, capturing black carbon particles from the atmosphere.
The position offers a balance of time in field and laboratory settings, and will allow the student to gain valuable insight into the planning, sampling, and analysis phases of a long-term research project.
This is a one-semester long internship with a 10-hour weekly workload ($10/hr).